Inclusive Education Project Podcast

We see many clients in the transitional time of life after finishing high school and wondering what comes next. Today’s show focuses on a wonderful program that meets specific needs in multiple ways, alleviating the worries of many parents of neurodiverse young adults. Join us to learn more!Dr. Michael Held is the Executive Director of The Village, which offers a multitude of programs that serve about 700 youth and adults with developmental differences each month. As a trained clinical psychologist, Dr. Held founded an organization called ETTA in 1993, originally serving the Jewish community. Since then, he has seen the fulfillment of his dream to create a world where individuals with developmental differences live fully enriched, inclusive, and independent lives through the work of The Village. The goal is to provide services that enrich a neurodiverse person’s life, including housing, job support, employment, activities, and a sense of inclusion and community. Dr. Held has led ETTA from a startup to its cur

You have heard us often discuss the shortcomings of standardized assessments in accurately determining the best ways to meet a child’s needs in the classroom. Standardized assessments are a tool, but they are not the best tool to use for every student. Today we dive into “learning stories,” observations that tell a story recognizing a child’s everyday efforts as milestones in their growth. Join us to learn more!We are joined by Julie Koumbassa, the Professional Development Director at Educa, the first and only software platform created specifically for learning stories. She helps oversee a virtual academy of training and professional development for early childhood educators and has vast experience in early childhood education as a teacher and administrator. In her work, she has become obsessed with learning stories and how they give new and beautiful perspectives on a child’s competencies and strengths. Show Highlights:Julie’s explanation of what learning stories are and how this tool was first develope

Here we are at the end of October already! If you haven’t met with your IEP teams, we remind you to schedule those meetings and do a check-in, even if it’s not quite time for your yearly meeting. Today’s episode takes a new, more holistic approach to neurodivergence as we focus on neurodivergent-affirming care in the IEP process. Join us to learn more!We are joined by Dr. Taylor Day (Dr. Tay), a child psychologist with years of expertise in the early diagnosis and intervention of autism. Her home base is in Pittsburgh, but she practices in about 40 states across the US. Autism became part of her world at age 12 when her younger brother was diagnosed. After watching her family navigate the difficult system, she knew at a young age that this would be her field of work. Being a researcher and working with families led her to launch her practice in 2022, Dr. Tay Concierge Clinical Care. Dr. Tay likes to do things differently and nurture families in every aspect with a specific emphasis on neurodivergent-affirming

As we find ourselves here at the end of October, we are in the thick of the first semester. The holidays will be here before you know it, so this is your friendly reminder to schedule those IEP meetings with your school team if you have been procrastinating. Today’s topic is how schools and teachers can be more supportive in providing appropriate gender-affirming care for students. Join us!We are joined by Erin Pollard, LMFT, LPCC, an academic administrator at the community college level in CA. She focuses therapy work almost exclusively with trans, non-binary, questioning, and gender-expansive people. Before her five years in her current position, she worked as a teacher and counselor in private practice. Her previous work at a community mental health clinic brought experience working with a population of first-generation, low-income immigrants. Show Highlights:What it means to provide “gender-affirming care”How you can use the PBS World Gender Map to learn more about “third gender cultures” around the

Today’s episode finishes out this brief series on the four low incidences eligibility categories. We covered blindness, deafness, hearing impairment, and now, visual impairment. “Visual impairment” is an umbrella term that includes an impairment in vision that, even with correction, adversely affects a child's educational performance. The term includes both partial sight and blindness. Join us for a closer look!Show Highlights:Services these students need to access curriculum, including assistive technologies, orientation, mobility, and reading/writing in BrailleExamples of accommodation services that should be provided for these studentsHow successful school teams have at least one person who can assist teachers in modifying lessons and resources to meet the visually-impaired student’s needsWhy relying more heavily on auditory signals and tools is important for teachers of the visually impaired studentWhy input from parents is crucial to the success of the IEP teamLinks/Resources:Contact us on social media o

In this series about the four low-incidence eligibility categories, we are giving examples of different accommodation services we have advocated for in serving students. Next up in today’s episode is low incidences of hearing impairment. This is defined as “an impairment in hearing, whether permanent or fluctuating, that adversely affects a child’s educational performance.” Let’s take a closer look!Show Highlights:How this eligibility category differs from the deafness category regarding the services the school district is required to provideExamples of accommodations that work well for students with hearing impairmentsHow even the pitch of certain voices and background noise can play roles in adversely affecting educational performanceWhy there is a big difference between “repeat” and “rephrase” teaching techniquesExamples of scenarios that can cause a “fluctuating” hearing impairment for a studentWhy it’s helpful to get all of a student’s middle or high school teachers together at the IEP meeting to get the

As we continue with our series on the eligibility categories of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), we present another brief episode on the second of the four categories that can be summarized within the law as “low incidence disabilities.” Join us for a closer look at low-incidence deafness in today’s episode.To clarify, the deafness category includes a severe hearing impairment affecting the child in processing linguistic information through hearing (with or without amplification) that adversely affects the child’s educational performance. This category is not to be confused with the less severe hearing impairment category, which we will tackle in next week’s episode. Show Highlights:How this category differs from being “hard of hearing” or having an auditory processing disorderWhy IEP services for a deaf child should encompass the entire school experience of both academic AND socialization supportHow accommodations and services should begin as early as preschool so the child can be

We are returning to our series on the eligibility categories with four brief episodes on the categories that can be summarized within the law as “low incidence disabilities.” This section of the IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is an umbrella of four sub-categories, so let’s take a closer look at low incidence deaf-blindness in today’s episode.Show Highlights:Why the deaf-blindness category is for students with both severe hearing and vision loss who need additional services other than standard IEP servicesWhy these impairments require highly specialized training, services, and IEP personnelWhy individual education programs are necessary to meet the unique needs of each childWhy there is no excuse and no exceptions for schools not to have access to the personnel to provide these highly specialized servicesLinks/Resources:Learn more about Peggy and Tamara’s book and get your copy! www.navigatingspecialeducation.com Connect with Peggy:  WebsiteConnect with Tamara:  WebsiteContac

It’s the perfect time to give parents tips and best practices in navigating IEP meetings and working in collaboration with your school team. THE most important aspect of that collaboration is effective communication, and we have not one, but two communication experts joining us for today’s episode. Join us to learn more!We are joined by Peggy S. Bud and Tamara L. Jacobson, the co-authors of Navigating Special Education: The Power of Building Positive Parent-Educator Partnerships. Together Peggy and Tamara have over 60 years of experience. Their book provides “a foundation for building proactive, positive partnerships that will lead to 21st century best practices for special needs students. Peggy Bud is a licensed speech-language pathologist, communications expert, author, and former school administrator. After leaving public education, Peggy founded Speaking Skillfully, which works with families, educators, and businesses to help them be effective communicators. In addition to blogging and writing polici

We are excited to follow up Episode 274 (Understanding the Enigma: Autism in Girls) with a Part 2 discussion with Melody Abbene. There are so many nuances of autism that we can understand better through the lens of Melody’s expertise. As most of the US is a few weeks into a new school year, this is the perfect time to have these helpful conversations to bring clarity to confused and frustrated parents. Specifically, today’s focus is on how to get diagnoses and services when there are no problematic behaviors at school. Join us to learn more!Dr. Melody Abbene is a clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent people, most of whom are autistic. She does therapeutic work and adult autism assessments and is based at LA Concierge Psychologist in the Los Angeles area. Show Highlights:Why we need an understanding of what autism looks like below the surfaceHow parents can navigate the relationship with the school team in a supportive way about what they notice about their child’s behavior

Here in mid-September, we are well into a new school year around the country. This is your friendly reminder to get ahead of any developing issues and schedule those IEP meetings now. Make those contacts with your school personnel in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation for the good of your student.  The focus of this episode is on the design plan that goes into brand-new school campuses and the innovations that can be made to existing school spaces. Today’s guest gives insights into the physical spaces that provide our kids of all abilities with the best indoor and outdoor learning environments. There are simple, economic solutions that any school can use to revamp and improve its campus. Join us!Melissa Turnbaugh is a partner at PBK, the largest educational architecture firm in the country. In her role as the National Education and Innovation Leader, Melissa looks carefully at where education has been, where it’s going, and how to provide best practices research for school districts around

As we are off and running into the new school year, we are sending out good vibes and best wishes to all parents and educators that 2023-2024 will be the best one yet! We always strive to bring you relevant information about topics that can help the students in your life get the very most out of their educational experience. Today’s show focuses on dyscalculia, a common math struggle for many students. Join us to learn more from today’s expert guest!Dr. Sandra Elliott began her career as an educator at a time when most students with disabilities were still in institutions, following a system in total opposition to inclusive education. She has had a front-row view of the many changes that have occurred in American education. As a teacher on various levels and a principal, Dr. Elliott has worked with curriculum developers around mathematics. She is currently the Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath, a 48-year-old multisensory math program focusing on special education and all students who struggle with math.&nbs

Wherever you are listening from, your area of the country is probably in full back-to-school mode. We love to bring you helpful information to ensure that your school year is off to a great start, whatever the situation for you and your kiddos. We want to educate parents and school personnel about how we can work together to make safer and more inclusive spaces for our kids in schools. Our guest today helps us start the conversation around racism and implicit bias in today’s classrooms. Join us to learn more!Nadia Bennett is a School Turnaround Strategist who works with K-12 schools to develop leaders while fostering a culture of inclusion, and equitable achievement, and creating anti-racist school environments. She is the founder and CEO of When Brown Girls Lead and believes strongly that students and school communities evolve when more educators of color are given the opportunity to lead. Prior to her current work, Nadia was an executive director of schools, high school principal, high school assistant prin

A new school year is always ripe with hope and anticipation that this one will be better than the last. We can all learn from our past mistakes AND successes to enter the 2023-2024 school year on a hopeful note. On today’s show, we talk with a guest who works every day as a fierce advocate to empower parents, grandparents, foster parents, educational right-holders, guardians, and all others who have a child in their care. Join us to learn more!We are joined by Dan Vosnos, Executive Director of One Chance Illinois. Dan spent over 20 years in educational administration, and he understands the challenges parents face in finding the best education for their children, particularly those with unique learning disabilities. He is the proud father of Frances, his one-year-old daughter, and Ellis, his four-year-old son with Down Syndrome. One Chance Illinois is located in the Chicago suburbs and is focused on empowering parents and guardians to choose high-quality, inclusive educational options that best fit their chil

Today’s topic is one that many people don’t recognize or acknowledge: autism in girls. Autism seems to present differently and to be much more commonly diagnosed in boys, so let’s learn more with today’s guest. Dr. Melody Abbene is a clinical psychologist with a specialty in working with neurodivergent people, most of whom are autistic. She does therapeutic work and adult autism assessments and is based in Los Angeles. Show Highlights:The differences in autism that present internally (more common in girls) and externally (more common in boys)Why girls with autism seem to blend in better with their peersWhere parents should begin if they suspect their child is neurodivergentHow parents can best communicate with the school team about the internal presentation of their child’s autismHow to tell that a child might have internalized autismHow “masking” is defined and describedWhy girls are more likely to be labeled with emotional disturbances and misdiagnosedLinks/Resources:Connect with Dr. Melody Abbene

Things are always changing in the field of education, and sometimes even new legislation and policies are like a whirlwind. Today’s episode takes a look at some exciting steps forward in inclusive education practices in California. Join us for more!Arielle Starkman is an Inclusive Education Consultant originally from New Jersey, and she now lives in Los Angeles. Her career as a special educator began right out of college when she first moved to California. Comparing her east coast experience to what she saw in California left her amazed that such a progressive state was not doing more in the field of inclusive education. Throughout her career, Arielle has held various roles as a special educator and is excited about the new initiatives that will lead to big changes for families. Show Highlights:Why new policies take a LONG time to take effect and be implementedHow the state of California has created The Inclusion Support Office Division–and what this means for students Why starting kids off on the r

As always, it seems like the summer flew by, and now we find ourselves jumping into another school year already. One question that comes up frequently in IEP meetings is why schools use standardized testing for kids with learning differences. Specifically, why do many school districts hold standardized test scores as the gold standard, when we know that kids with special needs aren’t being adequately evaluated? We are tackling this topic with Dr. Jayme Jones, who returns for a Part 2 conversation.Dr. Jayme Jones is a pediatric neuropsychologist who has maintained a private practice in CA since 1995. Her background is extensive in the assessment and treatment of preschool and school-aged children with a variety of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders, and she provides regular training on many related topics. We are thrilled that Dr. Jayme is joining us for a continuation of our conversation from Episode 261.Show Highlights:Why the most important thing is to keep the context in mind with standardized te

For our July shows, we are featuring a few of our most helpful episodes that you might have missed during the busy school year. Today’s encore edition is the second part of last week’s episode, where we take a closer look at what the law says about IEP eligibility. This part focuses on the “other health impairments” (OHI) category. As a reminder, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), sets forth 13 eligibility categories, and each state is allowed to expand (but not shrink) these categories in their implementation. Join us to learn more!Show Highlights:What is covered by the OHI (Other Health Impairments) category of the IDEAHow the IDEA code mentions “educational performance” but not academicsWhy a health impairment does not mean a medical diagnosis but can be anything that impacts a child’s healthWhy nothing in the code prohibits eligibility for a student with an OHI who is “making progress”Why we want to give parents information so they can ask about the IDEA code and how it is being inter

During our summer break for July, we are featuring a few of our most popular episodes that you might have missed during the busy school year. Today’s encore edition covers a disturbing trend we’ve seen about eligibility for IEPs in which children who need services are being denied for a variety of reasons. The best way to be a prepared parent is to arm yourself with knowledge. We hope this information will be helpful as you plan for the 2023-2024 school year. Show Highlights:The starting point for eligibility: the assessmentHow the trend is for opposing counsels to use special education language and buzzwords to apply delay tactics and “wait and see” approachesWhy an IEP DOES NOT equal special day classes and removal from general education classroomsWhy struggling children are being denied IEPs with the excuse that “they are doing OK without any services”Why struggling academically is NOT the only basis for IEP services for a childWhat the law actually says about eligibility criteria for IEPLinks/Resourc

For many, the intricacies of IEPs can be overwhelming, and often, essential details in the plan may be crucial to a child’s educational success. In today’s show, we are replaying a previous episode where we break down some of those little details most often overlooked in IEPs. Join us to learn more!Show Highlights:What to consider in state testing accommodations, both typical assessments and modified/alternative assessmentsWhy assessments and accommodations should be discussed at every IEP meetingWhy it might be beneficial at times to opt out of assessments for your childHow physical education testing and district testing take placeHow to understand the terms “embedded” and “non-embedded” in regard to accommodationsHow California has a specific Medi-Cal provision to pay for some related services in the IEPHow the “Special Factors” page may differ according to districts and states but has provisions for “low incidence” studentsHow to understand the assisted technology (AT) component of the IEPLinks/Resources:C